Xbox 720 Has Always-On DRM, Blocks Used Games, Says Eidos President

Same headline, different source. This is now 2 and 0 in regards to inside sources claiming that the Xbox 720 will block used games and will sport always-on DRM. The latest postulator is Eidos president Ian Livingstone, who claims that Microsoft's next generation home console will be about as anti-consumer as anti-consumer gets.

"Broadband speed globally isn’t at a level that justifies digital-only.” ...“With the next Xbox, you supposedly have to have an Internet connection, and the discs are watermarked, whereby once played on one console it won’t play on another,”

Originally, Edge published an article detailing the same features that Ian points out to MCV. This is not looking too good for Microsoft if this turns out to be true, because they would literally be handing the next-gen console war to Sony on a Platinum Trophy platter.

Some gamers have pointed out, however, that this is potentially all a well planned, well played marketing ploy. The conspiracy talk around the block is that Microsoft is using this opportunity to at least keep people talking about the Xbox 720. Like Oscar Wilde says, the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about, or as the old saying goes, any press is good press.

I wouldn't doubt that Microsoft is letting the rumor mill fill to the brim just to keep their console in the news. Come E3 (or their rumored event in April) they'll floor everyone by proving the rumors false and presenting the Xbox 720 as a system that does not support always-on DRM or a block on pre-owned games.

Still, it's hard to tell at this point if this rumor could be true, and it really could go either way.

By the way, the controller in that mockup of the Xbox 720 looks perverted.